Junior Achievement Beating the Odds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Junior Achievement of West Central Florida
15201 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 102
Clearwater, FL 33760
www.ja-wcf.org

MEDIA CONTACTS
Carla Prescott, Education Director
(813) 207-0217 Ext. 33
(727) 530-0884 Ext. 33

Sandra McKenna
Media Relations (727) 365-6195
October, 2000 (Clearwater, FL)

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BEATING THE ODDS WITH ONE OF A KIND PROGRAM
Junior Achievement, Inspiring Kids To Achieve!

The odds are against the young men who enter into the Hillsborough Correctional Institution in Riverview, Florida. Sentenced for felony crimes as adults, these youthful offenders' ages fourteen to eighteen, have committed very adult crimes ranging from car jacking to armed robbery to attempted murder. The odds are that they have been in trouble before and may have even spent time in a juvenile boot camp or detention center.

For the first time, inmates who are currently serving a sentence, will be allowed with supervision, out in to the community to address the Sun City Rotary Club and speak about their experiences. The two inmates who have completed the advanced program "Head Start for Success" from Junior Achievement will address the civic club at the Sun City Inn on Friday, October 27th at 12:00 p.m. Also sharing what the Junior Achievement experience has done to enrich their lives, are to former inmates who since being released from prison have found employment and one has already entered college.

From inside the confines of prison, Patrick M. Harmon, Junior Achievement volunteer and North American Transportation & Logistics Manager for Cargill Fertilizer, has exposed inmates to the benefits and importance of education.

For the past four years, Mr. Harmon has taught these young inmates how to identify skills they have acquired prior to coming to prison and those they have learned since their incarceration. They learn how to develop a resume, identify what type of jobs they will seek upon release and the education they will need to accomplish their goals. They are taught how to complete employment and college applications. Through the curriculum, they experience how to interview for a job. They learn public speaking skills and are required to give a presentation to their class. When asked why he believes so strongly in the program, Harmon said, "These are some really good guys who have done some really dumb things. The program gives them the tools they need to survive in the working world outside the institution."

Assistant Warden Chris Dennard welcomes Junior Achievement of West Central Florida into the prison. Junior Achievement programs teach young people the importance of staying in school. The organization also offers programs for students who may have difficulty graduating from high school. "Not every inmate is accepted into the program," Dennard said. "It is a privilege they earn. Each Thursday night class averages about sixteen participants. We have a waiting list to take the class. The curriculum offers invaluable life lessons for the students, many of which they otherwise would never be exposed to."

Junior Achievement is the world's largest and fastest growing organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics, and free enterprise. In West Central Florida Junior Achievement reaches over 50,000 students. Junior Achievement educates and inspires young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives.